Products Liability Expert Witness

Experienced, forensic expert witness for plaintiff or defense; both Federal and State. Accepting cases including, but not limited to: early stage case development: fires and explosions, hazardous chemicals, specialty chemicals, chemical burns and toxic exposure. Consumer and Industrial products and processes. Nationally certified fire and explosion investigator (CFEI), professional chemist (CPC) and chemical engineer (CChE) with extensive credentials in both industrial and academic fields.

CONSULTING CHEMIST & CHEMICAL ENGINEER

Intellectual Property & Trade Secret Litigation; Chemical Technology Assessment; Specialty Chemicals, Cosmetic Science and Industrial Product and Process Development. Creation of new applications. Technical Marketing/Editing/Journalist for Specialty Chemicals and Ingredients. Over 20 Patents. International Experience.

Fellow: American College of Forensic Examiners, American Institute of Chemists, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Royal Society of Chemistry (London)
PUBLICATIONS

Editor-in-Chief: Eurocosmetics Magazine (Germany);

Editor-in-Chief of Harry’s Cosmeticology, 9th Edition:

Lead Author, Editor, and Series Editor for publishers including Elsevier Publishing; Chief Scientific Advisor for HBA Global Expo and Director of Technical Conferences; Organizer for International Safety, Regulatory and Certification Programs.

Credentials

FACFE: Fellow: American College of Forensic Examiners

FRSC Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry (London)
FAIC Fellow: American Institute of Chemists CPC, CChE Certified Professional Chemist,
Certified Professional Chemical Engineer- National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

CFEI Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (Advanced Training); National Association of Fire Investigators

DABFE: Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Examiners

DABFET: Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Engineering & Technology

 

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Expert has over 40 years of industrial and academic of experience in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering. He has consulted with hundreds of corporations involved in the development, optimization, technical marketing and quality control of new and existing consumer, household, medical and industrial products. Expert is experienced in products liability, personal injury, intellectual property and trade secret cases. These include, but are not limited to: consumer, household and cosmetic products as well as industrial products and processes. He
has worked with numerous law firms and insurance companies in both plaintiff and defense cases as a consulting and testifying expert in both state and Federal courts.
Expert’s background includes: fires, explosions, accident reconstruction, hazardous chemicals, toxic exposures, chemical exposures, chemical burns, uncovering safer alternatives and training in courtroom procedures. He also has advanced training as a nationally certified fire and explosion investigator and is skilled at determining the origin and cause of fires, explosions and arson relating to flammable liquids, gases & solids as well as aerosol fires. Expert is also experienced in products liability issues and complex litigation relative to safety in design, formulation, packaging and handling, warnings, instructions and labels. He is also experienced in intellectual property and trade secret matters.

As an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry for 15 years, Expert trained the senior firefighters of New York City and surrounding cities in a course he designed on Fire Chemistry, Hazardous Chemicals and Fire Extinguishing Methods.

Expert is a former member of the Fire Science & Technology Educators Section of the National Fire Protection Association and a Senior Member of the National Fire Protection Association He has taken training at the National Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Training Program and the National Seminar on Fire Analysis Litigation. His experience and training includes NFPA 921, the peer reviewed, accepted scientific standard of the fire protection industry. Expert has also taken several programs in Advanced Training in the Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Science & Technology Program co-sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association and the National Association of Fire Investigators (2005, 2011, 2016).

His Professional Certifications include being a nationally certified Professional Chemist and Professional Chemical Engineer. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners, a Board Certified Forensic Examiner, a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology and a Nationally certified fire and explosion investigator. He is a past Executive Advisor to the American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology. Expert is a past member of the Executive Advisory Board of the Knovel Corporation, where he was responsible for guiding selection of science and engineering book content for hundreds of corporations, the U.S. patent office and the Royal Society of Chemistry (London). Expert was selected as a Vaaler Awards judge for 2003 by Chemical Processing Magazine. The awards competition honors products that improved operations or lowered costs for the chemical processing industry.

Expert was the winner of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and his biographical profile is listed in the Marquis Biographies Online Registry. 12/19/2019

Expert serves as Editor-in-Chief for EuroCosmetics Magazine (Germany) and is Editor- in-Chief of the 2,600 page book on the cosmetic industry, Harry’s Cosmeticology, 9th Edition.Served for six years as Chief Scientific Advisor & Director of Technical Programming for United Business Media’s HBA Global Technical Conference and Expo, the largest health and beauty conference & expo in the United

States. He has been the Chairman and Organizer of the Annual HBA Global Expo Safety, Regulatory and Certification Summit since 2006- a series of major international technical conferences covering the impact of global Regulations on the personal care and cosmetic industry. Expert also serves as Book Series Editor for Elsevier Publishing’s Personal Care and Cosmetic Technology Series. Expert is a member of the Center for Dermal Research at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Expert is a past Vice President of the Association of Consulting Chemists and Chemical Engineers and on its Executive Board of Directors. He is a voting member of several Standards-Making Committees of the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). These committees include: halogenated organic solvents, fire- extinguishing agents, fire standards, industrial chemicals, and hazard potential of chemicals. He also serves on several other ASTM committees including: forensic sciences, occupational health and safety, consumer products, hazardous substances, and industrial chemicals. Expert has extensive experience in the preparation and analysis of Material Safety Data Sheets, as well as the filing of Regulatory Applications for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Litigation Support Experience

Expert’s technical product litigation experience includes, but is not limited to:

Products Liability, Chemical Technology, Accident Reconstruction, Fires & Explosions, Hazardous Chemicals, Household and Industrial Products, Safety in Design & Formulation, Safer Alternatives & Safety in Packaging and Handling; Chemical Burns & Toxic Exposures; Technical Aspects of Warnings, Instructions and Labels; Personal Care & Cosmetic Products; Hair Relaxers, , Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry & Material Properties, Product & Process Issues, OSHA Regulations, Codes & Standards, Intellectual Property Management, including patent analysis/infringement as well as trade secret litigation.

Education

M.S. Chemical Engineering: Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (1966). Developed color toners for three- dimensional Xerox process under grant from Naval Weapons Test Laboratory.

B.S. Chemical Engineering: Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (1964).
John Zink Burner School: burner design, combustion in fired heaters; flare design & operation, furnace operation (1979).
National Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Training Program, Sarasota, FL (7/18-7/21…2016).
National Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Training Program, Sarasota, FL (8/2-8/4…2011).
National Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation Training Program, Sarasota, FL (7/23-7/25…2001).
National Seminar on Fire Analysis Litigation, Sarasota, FL (2001)
Skin Care Science for the Cosmetic Chemist, (Fairleigh Dickenson University (2004).

Expert Testimony in Litigation, Law Seminars International (2004): Training in Courtroom procedures.
National Advanced Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Science and Technology Program (2005)
Global Perspectives on Environmental Risk, Allen & Overy LLP, Continuuing Legal Education Program, New York City (Oct. 20, 2006)
National Advanced Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Training Program (2011)
New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists Rheology Symposium, Liberty Science Center, March 27, 2012
The International Advanced Fire Training Program: 921 & 1033- Putting it Together, July 18-21, 2016, Tampa, Florida

Professional Experience

1992-Present

Interactive Consulting, Inc. East Norwich, N.Y. Position: President

Expert serves as expert witness for attorneys and insurance companies (both plaintiff & defense) in chemistry and chemical engineering technology and their application to consumer and industrial products relative to product development, safety and intellectual property issues. His expertise incudes, but is not limited to: fires, explosions, hazardous chemicals, chemical burns and toxic exposures.

Expert also consults for the cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical and specialty chemical areas. These include, for example, the application of fundamental polymer and surface chemistry principles to a wide variety of market development & technological issues associated with the Specialty Chemicals & Allied Industries. He conducts corporate training in mind map technology, runs ideation/brainstorming sessions, does technical marketing, customized technology and market research, technology transfer and professional technical writing/editing. Expert served as Chief Scientific Advisor and Director of Technical Symposia for United Business Media’s HBA Global Expo, and was responsible for the design and organization of all technical conference programs for six years which included speaker recruitment and assessment, evaluation and editing of technical presentations of approximately 100 speakers each year and management of the technical conference program which drew approximately 1,000 attendees each year.

Expert has also been the Designer and Organizer of HBA’s Annual International Safety, Regulatory and Certification Summit Conference Programs. Expert served on the Executive Advisory Board of the Knovel Corporation where he was responsible for providing content guidance for hundreds of corporations, the U.S. Patent Office and the Royal Society of Chemistry (London).

1979-1992
Union Carbide Corporation Boundbrook, N.J.
Position: Development Scientist
Provided technical support and problem solving for POLYOX Water Soluble Resin: poly (ethylene oxide).

Developed aqueous lubricant to replace diesel fuel used in manufacture of bricks. Conducted research on water- soluble polymers as lubricants.

Managed a one-year safety program for 60 scientists and engineers. Trained 24 instructors who ran monthly safety awareness seminars on handling hazardous chemicals and equipment. Responsible for site laboratory facility safety issues.

Prepared Material Safety Data Sheets and technical literature describing chemical products and hazards. Set up a computer-generated MSDS for product formulations containing multiple hazardous chemical components. Consultant on “Rapid Water” fire extinguishing system used by New York City Fire Department.

Responsible for chemical/equipment safety aspects of laboratory facilities including review of Material Safety Data Sheets.

Responsible for safety protection in loud noise, taconite dust environments at temperatures from
–30 degrees F. Set up and supervised thermoplastic polymer processing laboratory and insured safe operation.

Developed poly (acrylamide) and poly (ethylene oxide) flocculants and coagulants for the separation of suspended particulates in process wastes associated with industrial wastewater treatment. Conducted extensive field and lab trial development programs for coagulants and flocculants in phosphate mining waste reclamation and coal wastes. Developed taconite ore binders for use in iron ore pelletizing processes.

1973-1979
Union Carbide Corporation, Tarrytown, N.Y. Position: Project Scientist
Conducted research on fuel combustion and developed additives for increasing fuel combustion efficiency. Consulted on effect of silicone surfactants as flame-retardants for polyurethane foam.

1966-1973
Union Carbide Corporation, Tonawanda, N.Y.; Tarrytown, N.Y. Position: Research Engineer
Developed aqueous film-forming fire-fighting foam widely used by military and civilians for airplane crash fires. Conducted applied research in silicone surface-active agents.
Academic Experience

1970-84
Adjunct Professor, Chemistry Dept. Westchester Community College, Valhalla, N.Y.
Designed and taught a Fire Science, Fire Chemistry, Chemical Hazard and Toxicology course. Instructed senior professional firefighters of New York City and surrounding cities
in hazardous chemical technology of flammable, toxic and explosive chemicals. Taught physics and chemistry of modern fire extinguishing methods including: AF-3 aqueous film forming foam, low and high expansion foam; Halon and dry powder agents.

1984
Course Director: Center for Professional Advancement,
East Brunswick, N.J.
Designed, Organized, Managed and Taught 3-day course in “Scientific Fire Fighting”.

Professional Associations & Achievements

American Board of Forensic Engineering & Technology, Executive Advisor
American Chemical Society
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
American College of Forensic Examiners
ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry
American Industrial Hygiene Association / Former Member Noise Committee
American Institute of Chemists, (Former Director)
American Society of Safety Engineers (Former Member)
Assoc. of Consulting Chemists/Chemical Engineers: Executive Director, Past V.P.
Center for Dermal Research at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
National Association of Fire Investigators
National Fire Protection Association, Senior Member Member, Fire Science & Technology • Educators Section;
Former member Fire Fighting Foam Subcommittee (Standards -making body).
Société de Chimie Industrielle, American Section (Former Member)
Society of Cosmetic Chemists, National
New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists
Controlled Release Society (Consumer & Diversified Product Committee)
American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) Committees:
D-1 Paint & Related Coatings, Materials & Applications
D-3 Gaseous Fuels
D-12 Soaps & other Detergents
D-13 Textiles
D-14 Adhesives
American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) Committees:
D-26 Halogenated Organic Solvent & Fire Extinguishing Agents
E-5 Fire Standards
E-15 Industrial Chemicals
E-27 Hazard Potential of Chemicals
E-30 Forensic Sciences
E-34 Occupational Health & Safety
E-35 Pesticides
E-48 Biotechnology
E-51 Environmental Risk Management
F-15 Consumer Products
F-20 Hazardous Substances & Oil Spill Response

Awards and Acknowledgments

Listed in:
Who’s Who in The East, 1996-2002.
Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, 1996.
International Who’s Who of Professionals, 1996, 1997.
Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, 1996-2006
Who’s Who in America, 1996-present.
American Institute of Chemists Professional Directory, 1996.
Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge, England, 1998).
Honored Member – Strathmore’s Who’s Who – 1999
Outstanding People of the 20th Century, International Biographic Center, Cambridge, England, 1999.

Peer Reviewer:

Professional Journals
Journal of Chemical Education
Journal of Cosmetic Science, Official Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists
The Chemist
Journal of Testing and Evaluation (American Society of Testing Materials-ASTM) Cosmetics & Toiletries, Journal of Controlled Release Society
EuroCosmetics Magazine (Germany)

AFFILIATIONS

National Association of Fire Investigators

Editor-In-Chief: Harry’s Cosmeticology, 9th Ed., Chemical Publishing Company (2015) Editor-in-Chief: North and Latin America- EuroCosmetics Magazine (Germany)
Center for Dermal Research at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey